Oxygen supply apparatus



eb. 23, 1943. MERKER 2,311,955

OXYGEN SUPPLY APPARATUS iled May 2s, 1941 o A? /5 BY i a ATTORNEY, y

equipment and respirators.

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 l 2,311,955 OXYGEN SUPPLY APPARATUS Herman Merlrer, Milwaukee, 'Wis., assigner to Pressed Steel Tank Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 26, 1941, Serial No. 395,245

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an oxygen supply apparatusespecially designed and adapted for use by militaryair-craft personnel.

Due to the high altitudes at which modern military air-craft operate, itiis necessary to supply the crew with oxygen. `For such purposes oxygen is ordinarily furnished in a high pressure cylinder equipped with necessary pressure-reduc- The pressure at which the oxygen is stored in the cylinder is of the order of eighteen hundred to two thousand pounds per square inch. Because of weight and space limitations a minimum amount of oxygen is now carried in a single cylinder, and if this cylinder is pierced with a bullet, the oxygen supply is immediately dissipated and there is little likelihood of saving the airplane and crew.

The present invention proposes to provide oxygen supply apparatus adapted for use by military air-craft personnel and wherein the Vsingle cylinder heretofore used is replaced by a plurality of, preferably two, smaller cylinders, each of which may have approximately one-half the capacity of the single cylinder now used. The two cylinders are combined and organized with the `blocking either of said branches upon a sudden pressure-reducing equipment and respirators in l a special way, that is, by means of a special valve drop of pressure in the cylinder connected to either branch. While this valve means may take various forms, it preferably comprises a doubleacting, floating piston valve, interposed between alined or opposed valve seats in the branches, normally biased out lof engagement with both valve seats. but automatically closing against the valve seat adjacent a cylinder in which there is a sudden pressure drop. The valve casing is also provided withan outlet located on the outlet side of said floating valve, and leading to the pressurereducing equipment and respirators.l Flow or the oxygen through the outlet is controlled by a manually operable shut-cti valve. The valve and distributing mechanism is also so constituted as to facilitate recharging of the cylinders.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oxygen supply apparatus having these advantages and capacities, and vwhich is simple, compact, and highly organized in construction, reliable and safe in operation, comparatively light in Weight, and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

(Cl. LZ1-73.5)

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in top planV showing an oxygen supply apparatus embodying the present invention, the pressure-reducing mechanism and respirators connected to the outlet of the valve mechanism being illustrated diagrammatically;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal, vertical, cross section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, the cylinders being omitted and the floating piston valve being shown in its normal position, that is, out of engagement with both valve seats.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in longitudinal, vertical cross section and partly in side elevation, but showing the floating valve seated against one of the valve seats;

Figure 4 is a view inv transverse vertical cross section taken on line I-I of Figure 2;

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views in longitudinal, vertical cross section, and in end elevation, respectively, of one of the valve stem guides; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal,

vertical cross section, showing a modlilcation of i the invention.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figure 1, it is seen that an oxygen supply apparatus embodying the present invention oomprises a plurality. preferably two, of oxygen supply cylinders, designated at I0 and II. These cylinders are of identical construction and each contains a supply of oxygen under pressure. .The neck of each cylinder is internally threaded to adapt the cylinders to be connected to the exe ternally threaded inlet fittings I2 and I3 provided on a. valve casing Il of generally inverted T-shaped form. The inlet ilttings are at the ends of the cross bar of the inverted T-shaped valve casing Il and they provide the branch passageways I5 and I5' whichlead from one-end oi' the m'ain passage-way I 6 extending through the vertical leg I1 of the valve casing. Sleeve-like valve stem guides I8 and I9 are threaded into branch passage-ways I5 and I5', and their confronting ends are machined or otherwise fashioned to provide valve seats 20 and 2I. A floating, doubleacting piston valve 22 is interposed between the valve seats 20 and 2|. Integral with the valve 22 are similar elongated valve stems 23 and 24 cruciform in cross section. Springs 25 and'26 are provided to normally maintaing valveA 22 ldisengaged from both seats. The springs 25 and 26 are jllted' by hand-wheel "l0,

`of! the damaged cylinder 23 or 24,\as the case may be. Bushings 21 and 28, threaded into the outer ends of the passageways l and I8, ail'ord abutments for the outer ends oi the springs l25 and 2B. v V

The vertical leg of the valve casing I4 is' provided with an outlet 29 which is connected with distributing lines 30 and 3| leading through pressure-reducing devices 32 to suitable respirators 34. In the passage-way I1 leading to the outlet 29 is a valve seat 35. A manually operable shut-v of! valve 36 coacts with this valve seat 35 to control the iiow of oxygen out through the-outlet 29. This valve I6 may be of any suitable type. The drawing shows a well-known typeof valve suitable for this purpose, in that it .is opened by a spring 31, is diaphragm-sealed as at I8 and may be moved to closed position by means oi' an actuating screw I9 conveniently ad- With this construction,l when oxygen is to be supplied to the respirators, the hand-wheel 40 is turned back` of! the screw 39 to allow the spring 31 to open the valve I6. Thereupon oxygen ilows from both cylinders i0 and Il, past the valves 22 and 36 to the outlet 29, and thence through the distributing lines SII-3l and pressure-reducing devices 23 to respirators 34. I! there is a sudden drop in pressure in either cyl inder Il or il, due, for example, to one oi the cylinders being pierced by a bullet, the pressure will automatically move valve 22 against the seat 20 or 2l adjacent the cylinder in which there' is a sudden pressure drop. 'I'his will shut from the system and oxygen will thereafter be supplied from the unimpaired cylinder.

'I'he apparatus ing. When the cylinders are empty the valve connection 29 can be disengaged and cylinders I0 and Il with valve 40 may be removed as av unit. If the cylinders are intact, valve 22 will remain in a central position during the charging operation, since the pressures in both cylinders are equal. Should one or the other of the cylinders have been damaged it can merely bef removed from valve III and a new one put in its place andv recharging performed in the usual manner. In the case of one cylinder having been damaged it is only necessary toopen the valve to drain the other cylinder completely of pressure in ordervto assure that valve 22 moves back into its neutral position.

lends itself to ready recharg-f The form of the invention shown in Figure '1 is identical with that just described, save that the springs 25 and 26, and their abutments 26 and 21, are omitted, and the body of the piston valve, .designated at 22', is formed with an annular groeve 22a of concave cross section. A spring-pressed ball detent 45 carried by the valve casing coacts with the groove 22a to releasably retain the valve 22' in central or unseated position, but in the event of a sudden pressure drop in either cylinder the pressure overcomes the action of the detent 45 and the valve is closed to shutoff the damaged cylinder. With this construction, when the apparatus is to be recharged, the valve 22 must be punched back to neutral position bya suitable tool.

While I have shown and described several constructions in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the constructions shown have been selected merely for the purpose of illustration or exam ple, and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of the parts may :ne made without departing from the'spirit of` the invention or the scope of the subi oined claims.

I claim: l

l.v An oxygen supply apparatus of the character described comprising two cylinders, elf-:h cylinder containing a supply of oxygen under pressure, a valve casing having a passage-way therethrough, said passage-way having ltwo alined inlet branches, one connected to one of said cylinders and the other connected to the other of said cylinders. opposed valve seats in said inlet branches. a single balanced, doubleacting, oating piston valve interposed between said valve "seats, yieldable means for normally maintaining the piston valve disengaged from both seats but allowing the pressure within the valvecasing acting directly on the valve to close the valve automatically against a seat adjacent a cylinder in which there is a sudden drop of pressure. said valvecasing having an outlet communicating with said passagewayon the outlet side of said piston valve and from which oxygen is dispensed.

- 2. An oxygen supply apparatus of the character described comprising two cylinders, each cylinder containing a supply lof oxygen under pressure, a valve casing having a passageway therethrough, said passageway having two alined inlet branches, one connected to one oi said cylinders and the other connected to the `other of said cylinders, opposed confronting valve seats in said inlet branches, a single double-acting piston valve having a single piston head interposed between said valve'seats, and yieldable means` for normally maintaining the" piston valve disengaged irom both seats but allowing the pressure within the valve casing acting directly on the valve to close the valve automatically against a seat adjacent a cylinder in which there is a sudden drop oi pressure, said valve casing having an outlet communicating with said passageway on the outletside oi.v said valve and through which oxygen is dispensed.

3. An oxygen supply apparatus of the character described comprlsi'ngftwo cylinders, each cylinder containing a supply of yoxygen under pressure, a valve casing having a passage-way therethrough, said passageway having two alined inlet branches, one connected to one of said cylinders and the other connected to the other of said cylinders. opposed confronting valve seats in said inlet branches, a single double-acting piston valve having a single piston head interposed between said valve seats, and a spring projected detent cooperable with said piston head for normally maintaining the piston valve disengaged from both seats but allowing thepressure within the valve casing acting directly on the valve to close the valve automatically against a seat adjacent a cylinder in which there is a sudden drop of pressure, said valve casing having an outlet communicating with said passageway on the outlet side of said valve and through which oxygen,

dispensed, tubular valve stem guides threaded into the inlet ttings and having confronting valve seats, a single double-acting piston valve having a single piswn head interposed be weer?.

said valve seats and havingJ oppositely extendingl valve stems slidably interiltted with said tubular valve stem guides, and yieldable means for nor#1 mally maintaining the piston valve disengaged from both seats but allowing the pressure tc close' the valve automatically against the seat adjacent the cylinder in which there is a sudden drcp ofV pressure.

5. An oxygen supply apparatus oi the cheri acter described comprising two cylinders, each containing a supply of oxygen under pressure," an inverted T-shaped valve casing havinginlet fittings at the ends ci its cross bar connected te said cylinders and also having an outlet connec-A tion in its vertical leg from which the oxygen is dispensed, tubular valve stem guides threaded into the inlet fittings and having confronting valve casing acting directly on the valve to close" the valve automatically against the seat adjacent the cylinder in which there is a sudden drop ci pressure.

6. An oxygen supply apparatus o2 the ciseau` actes described comprising two cylinders, each containing a supply ci oxygen under pressure. an inverted T-siiaped valve casing leaving inlet said t tion in its vertical leg from which the oxygen is dispensed, tubular valve stem guides threaded into the inlet fittings and having confronting e deulileecting piston valve lawine ti single piston head interposed between seid valve seats and having oppositely extending valve stems slidanly intertted with said tubular valve stern guides, and yieldacle means for non nelly the pieten valve disengaged irene. both seats but allowing the pressure to close the valve automatically against the seat adjacent the cylinder in which there is a sudden drop ci psessure, said valve stems being ci' cruciorm in cross section.

7. Ace oxygen supply apparatus oi the character described comprising two cylinders', each cylinder containing a supply ci oxygen under pressure, a valve casing lnavii'n?v a passage-Way therethrough, said passageway having two inlet branches, one connected to one of said cylinders and the ether connected to the other of said cylinders., valve seats in said inlet 7erniclies, a single double-acting piston valve interposed between said valve seats, yieldalile means for normally meinte piston valve disengaged from "nctli se ts ont allowing tne pressure te close the valve automatically against the seat adjacent the cylinder in which there is sudden drop ci pres sare, mysemdistrilsutine system 'include giressnioercdnclnf; device and respirator conneetecl to irl telve casing en the outlet side of said reisten visive. 

